The Sierra Marlins Swim Club is a non-profit organization which counts on its members to volunteer their time to promote unity and to enable the club to thrive. Earning volunteer points during the swimming calendar year of September through August is required. Each returning family, as well as families transferring from another team, will be required to earn thirty (30) team points. For families joining the team after December 1st, the team point obligation will be pro-rated. Each point is equivalent to one hour worked.
It is important for every parent to be involved with the club and their children’s activities. That is why clubs require members to meet team hour quotas. We do not want anyone to miss out on the fun! A lot of our first time parents are a little nervous or confused about the many volunteer opportunities there are in a swim club. There is no need for either. We are all amateurs! Besides, everyone is watching the swimmers, not the volunteers.
USA Swimming is the most volunteer intensive sport on the planet. It takes every parent to prepare, run and recover from a big meet. But just what is that worth to the club? I ran some quick numbers and figured if we had to pay minimum wage for every volunteer hour spent to put on our three main home swim meets this season we would shell out close to $30,000. Most of us wouldn’t do what we do in a swim meet for minimum wage, maybe for any wage. It just proves we do things without hesitation for the love of our children we would never do for money.
The Marlins host 3 major meets per swim year. This is where families will earn the majority of their required 30 team points. Our biggest meets are the Annual Gobbler (Nov. 20-22, 2009) and Spring Splash (April 23-25, 2010) and a winter meet (March 5-7, 2010). Parents please put these meets on your calendar as your attendance is mandatory. All families are required to work our three main home meets regardless of swimmer participation. To ensure the continued success of your Sierra Marlin Team, we rely on the support of our members to fill our many jobs specifically at these hosted meets. These meets contribute a substantial portion of our fundraising efforts each year (about $25,000). The Marlins have a reputation of running high quality and efficient meets in a venue that swimmers enjoy racing in and families continue to attend year after year. Hosting a swim meet ultimately benefits every swimmer on our team.
After careful analysis, it was determined that it would take approximately 120 families, working 8 hours (two 4 hour shifts) to ensure our split session meets held in November and April, run smoothly and efficiently. Our smaller meets require each family to work one (1) 4 hour shift. Some of our smaller “in-house” meets are: open water, tri or dual meets etc. these are generally held in the fall.
We recognize there may be meet weekends with other commitments, if you are unable to work a scheduled meet, you must call the parent commitment coordinator to discuss other options. In lieu of working your shifts, you also have the option of “buying out” a 4 hour shift for $100. (This arrangement and payment must be made 2 weeks prior to the meet.) Each shift that is bought out will earn the equivalent of 4 team points.
As stated earlier, for the 2009-2010 swim season, we are estimating a minimum of 30 hours family commitment from all families. These hours will be logged into Team Unify upon completion of each event. As it is mandatory for all families to work our home meets, each family will be able to accrue additional hours at fundraising events, awards banquet, open water swim, dual meets, Buddy Night, Team Parent position, etc. to achieve the minimum 30 team point/hour commitment.
At away meets we are required to provide timers and officials. While this does not fulfill the team points/hours commitment, each family is expected to time a minimum of one shift per meet weekend or officiate. Currently, communication to members is through e-mail where members sign up prior to the meet to fulfill this obligation, but it is the member’s responsibility to volunteer.
For and list of commitees and the most up to date list of what your job your family has signed up for: Click Here
For questions or suggestions, please contact the Parent Commitment Coordinator at: tracey@geogasch.com.
Welcome to the Sierra Marlin Family, we look forward to a great 2010 swim season!
Tracey Gasch, Parent Commitment Coordinator
